Former New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham will be honored on Sunday as the team’s “Legend of the Game” prior to Sunday’s contest against the Atlanta Falcons at the Caesars Superdome.
Graham, a cornerstone of the Saints offense for six seasons (2010-14, 2024), was originally selected by the Black and Gold in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft (95th overall) out of the University of Miami (Fla.), where he played a graduate campaign in football after spending four seasons on the Hurricanes basketball team. In his six seasons with the Black and Gold, the Goldsboro, N.C. native played in 91 regular season games, posting 392 receptions for 4,791 yards and 55 touchdowns, adding 210 receiving yards and three more touchdowns in the postseason. Graham was a three-time Pro Bowl selection (2011, 2013-14) and two-time Associated Press All-Pro (2011 and 2013).
Graham also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears (2015-21), a period when was selected to two additional Pro Bowls (2016-17). Over his 13-year career, Graham totaled 719 receptions for 8,545 yards (11.9 avg.) with 89 touchdown grabs. The most productive tight end in franchise history and among the best to ever play the position, Graham ranks fourth in NFL record books in receiving touchdowns among tight ends, while his receptions and receiving yardage totals rank eighth.
As a Saint, Graham’s impact transition from a basketball background to one of quarterback Drew Brees’ most trusted targets started to take place as a rookie in 2010, when he made four touchdowns catches in the team’s last three games. In 2011, Graham enjoyed a breakout campaign, racking up a franchise record at the time 99 receptions for 1,310 yards (13.2 avg.) with 11 touchdowns on the way to his first Pro Bowl and AP All-Pro selections. In 2013, Graham produced his career-best season, when in 16 games, he hauled in 86 grabs for 1,215 yards (14.1 avg.) and a career-high/league-leading 16 receiving touchdowns on his way to another Pro Bowl nod and first-team All-Pro selection. From 2011-14, Graham led all tight ends in receptions (355), receiving yards (4,396) and touchdown grabs (46).